Smartdrive MX2+ – Powered Attachment

Item Description:

A black power assist device that attaches to the back of my manual wheelchair and can either be controlled by a Bluetooth smartwatch or a switch that is directly connected to the main unit.

Battery Life:
7 Miles

Source of Item:

Facebook Market Place (Second Hand)

Diagnosis:
Unknown Progressive Neurological Disorder, Resulting In Me Being Paralysed From Chest Down

Personal Opinion:
This device has been life-changing and has enabled me to independently go to college, roll up hills, walk the dog etc. It easily attaches to the back of most manual wheelchairs: the only difference being that on rigid frames the device attaches to a bracket which remains mounted on the axle bar (between large rear wheels), whereas on folding frames the device attaches directly onto a removable bar that sits between the large rear wheels.

Once everything is set up, you simply double-tap the watch on your wheels to start the SmartDrive, single tap to lock in the speed, then double tap to stop. The smartwatch needs to be charged frequently, but the SmartDrive itself lasts a very long time. For reference, I am a full-time wheelchair user who is paralysed chest down, so rely on it every day. I have most recently used it at Alton Towers (which makes for long days, travelling around a large theme park), and yet my SmartDrive still had some charge at the end of the day!

SmartDrive Pros:
– It’s easy to use.
– Goes up to 12 mph.
– Has a 7-mile radius.
– Is very reactive, so stops and starts almost instantly.
– Has interchangeable speed and reactivity.
– Main device has a long lasting battery which charges quickly.
– Comes with a large watch that has good accessibility features.

SmartDrive Cons:
– It is very expensive.
– Main device is quite heavy to carry and repeatedly get on and off.
– Recommend using switches instead of the watch as it’s very slow.
– Smartwatch also has a very poor battery.
(I learnt that if I turn the watch off when I am not using it and silence all notifications it lasts a little longer.)